By Morris Phillips

The Giants’ just completed home stand would have to be deemed a success as they were able to do fashion a winning record and win consecutive home games for the first time since June 8.  But the home stretch lasted just five games and contained just three wins. 

As modest a success as imaginable, but a success.  Now with 39 games remaining, can the Giants ramp it up and secure a wild card berth or challenge the Dodgers for the division crown?

It all starts Tuesday at Wrigley Field in Chicago where the Giants’ Ryan Vogelsong will face the Cubs’ Tsuyoshi Wada in a 5:05pm start.

Of the Giants remaining 39 games, 22 of them are against teams with losing records including the three in Chicago.  The Giants sit just two games behind in the loss column to the Dodgers after they were swept at home by the Brewers. 

Coming off two months of desultory play, the Giants appear healthier—physically and mentally—and look to have a solution at second base in rookie Joe Panik.  So can they play better and if so, how much better?

If they finish 20-19—another modest success—they’ll likely come up painfully short in both races.  Currently the Giants have a 1 ½ game lead for the second wild card spot over the Braves, while trailing the Cardinals by that same 1 ½ game for the top wild card spot.  Including the Pirates, someone figures to get hotter than what a 20-19 finish could withstand.

But if the Giants get hot—say a 25-14—finish, they’ll win 90 games and most likely be in the post-season for the third time in the last five seasons.

Among the questions the team will have to answer besides the obvious need for greater offensive production from all hands is the ability to fight through fatigue in their compressed schedule.  The Giants only have three off-days remaining and are currently in a stretch of games on 16 consecutive days. 

In comparison to the Dodgers this could be an issue, as the Dodgers have completed two more games than the Giants with the balance of a suspended game in Denver contributing to the compressed-nature of the Giants’ schedule.

Also, the bullpen—given the absence of injured Jeremy Affeldt—could experience issues of fatigue and performance although Sergio Romo, the demoted closer, temporarily jumped back into the role over the weekend and picked up his first save in more than two months.